Finland plans to ban imports of Russian liquefied natural gas
Reform of the EU gas market, which allows member states to ban gas imports from Russia, will help to terminate the contract
Finland plans to ban imports of Russian liquefied natural gas from 2025.
Source. This was stated by the Minister of Climate Change and the Environment Kai Mukkänen, cited by Helsingin Sanomat.
"I don't want to give a specific date, but I hope that next year we will be in a situation where the ban will be in force," Mukkänen said.
The Finnish state-owned company Gasum continues to import LNG from Russia, explaining its actions by a long-term agreement with Gazprom.
Gasum claims that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, it has purchased the minimum amount stipulated by the contract from Gazprom. Details of the contract duration or the volume of purchases were not disclosed.
The contract may be terminated due to the reform of the EU gas market, which allows member states to ban gas imports from Russia and Belarus for security reasons.
The ruling is expected to come into force in the spring, after which the government will submit its proposal for a ban, prepared in consultation with the European Commission.
Latvia and Lithuania have already imposed national bans on Russian gas imports, but Finland prefers to wait until the EU gas market reform comes into force.
Mukkänen notes that an amendment to EU legislation will make it easier to implement the ban and increase its legal certainty.
Russian LNG can no longer be imported to the floating terminal in Inko.
Last year, Russia supplied almost 16 million tons of LNG to Europe. Spain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands were the largest buyers.
In Finland, despite its small volume, LNG imports from Russia are estimated at several million euros per month.
Background. As reported, Finland will have to pay for Russian gas for years even after it refuses it. The mandatory payment for gas is the result of an agreement between the Finnish state-owned company Gasum and Gazprom.
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